Mean Streets is Martin Scorsese's often-forgotten, semi-autobiographical predecessor to Goodfellas, but it is nearly as good and just as good at capturing the limitations of the New York streets. Italian-American Charlie (Harvey Keitel) leads a life ruled by conflicting values. He identifies as Catholic, but feels he has to deal with sins in his own way rather than following the dictates of the Bible. He works making collections and reclaiming bad debts for his gangster uncle, Giovanni (Cesare Danova), but his empathy often works against him here, making him feel badly for those who cannot pay. One of those who cannot pay is his best friend and notorious troublemaker Johnny Boy (Robert De Niro), who owes money to their loan shark friend, Michael (Richard Romanus). Charlie, caught in the middle, tries to keep the peace between the two men, but Johnny Boy makes no attempts to repay his debt and spends what little money he has on good times and parties. Meanwhile, Charlie has been in a clandestine relationship with Johnny Boy's cousin, and epileptic named Teresa (Amy Robinson). Mean Streets is the story of Charlie's struggle to reconcile these disparate parts of his life- rarely succeeding, often failing.
Robert De Niro is often commended for his performance as the self-destructive force that is Johnny Boy, and while he is the one who pops onscreen, Harvey Keitel is equally as good in the more nuanced role of Charlie. He's a sad soul, limited by so many influences- the church, the streets, his family, his friends, and his duties. He's trying so hard to be a good person (for the most part). Mean Streets is also a significant turning point in Scorsese's career, demonstrating his first use of blending genres and expert music selection. There's a seamless mix of 30's gangster flick, film noir, and modern techniques that come together to make a great American film. When "Be My Baby" starts playing during the opening credits over home video footage of Charlie, it creates a romanticized image of life that is in stark contrast with the rest of the film- a scummy underbelly of one of the most populous cities in America. And the "Jumpin' Jack Flash" bar scene is one to be remembered, even influencing later directors like Wes Anderson in the creation of his first feature film: Bottle Rocket. Despite the film being forgotten and shot primarily in Los Angeles, there is no doubt that the film exudes Scorsese's now-signature New York atmosphere, maintaining its charm 41 years after it was created.
Robert De Niro is often commended for his performance as the self-destructive force that is Johnny Boy, and while he is the one who pops onscreen, Harvey Keitel is equally as good in the more nuanced role of Charlie. He's a sad soul, limited by so many influences- the church, the streets, his family, his friends, and his duties. He's trying so hard to be a good person (for the most part). Mean Streets is also a significant turning point in Scorsese's career, demonstrating his first use of blending genres and expert music selection. There's a seamless mix of 30's gangster flick, film noir, and modern techniques that come together to make a great American film. When "Be My Baby" starts playing during the opening credits over home video footage of Charlie, it creates a romanticized image of life that is in stark contrast with the rest of the film- a scummy underbelly of one of the most populous cities in America. And the "Jumpin' Jack Flash" bar scene is one to be remembered, even influencing later directors like Wes Anderson in the creation of his first feature film: Bottle Rocket. Despite the film being forgotten and shot primarily in Los Angeles, there is no doubt that the film exudes Scorsese's now-signature New York atmosphere, maintaining its charm 41 years after it was created.